Apparatus for making carbonic-acid or other gas.



No. 704,272. Patented July 8, I902.

VAN VECHTUN W. BlESBERG.

APPARATUS FOR MAKING GAR-BDNIC ACID OR OTHER GAS.

(Applicafion filed Septv 26, 1901) (N0 MOUQI.)

m: NORRIS PETERS co. PNOTD-UTHQ, msnmnmn. 0,1;

Nin STATES,

PAT NT OFFICE.

VAN VECHTON 1V. RIESBERG, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

APPARATUS FOR MAKING CARBONlC-ACID OR OTHER GAS.

SPECIFICATI N forming part of Letters Patent No. 704,272, dated July 8,1902v Original application filed July 18, 1901, Serial No. 68,726.Divided and this application filed September 26,1901. Serial (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, VAN VEcHToN W. Rins- BERG, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at the city of Philadelphia, in the county ofPhiladelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Apparatus for Making Carbonic- Acid or other Gas,of which the following is a specification.

Ileretofore in the manufacture of carbonicacid gas the solid matter,usually marbledust or other carbonate-of-lime compound, has beenintroduced into a receptacle reinforced so as to withstand a pressure ofmany pounds. The acid, usually sulfuric acid, has been introduced intothis receptacle and the gas caused to evolve in the receptacle andmaintained therein under enormous pressure. The cost of constructing areceptacle strong enough to withstand this pressure, the liability ofthe receptacle to burst without warning, causing loss of life andproperty, and the inaccessibility of the interior of the chamber for thepurpose of removing the spent materials are some of the maindisadvantages of the old method and apparatus for making carbonic-acidgas. A further disadvantage was that the acid and carbonaceous materialswere not completely combined or spent, but a considerable proportion waspassive and lost in the subsequent cleaning and recharging of theapparatus. Again, in opening the receptacle for cleaning or recharging alarge quantity of gas was wasted, since gas under a pressure of lessthan one hundred and fifty pounds remaining in the receptacle could notbe utilized for charging the liquid to be carbonated.

The main objects of my present invention are to provide an apparatus forgenerating carbonic-acid or similar gas under lowpressure within areceptacle in whichthematerials may be completely combined and which hasits interior readily accessible for cleansing and recharging withoutwasting the gas.

The present application is a division of an application filed by meunder date of July 18, 1901, bearing the Serial No. 68,726.

The nature and scope of my present invention will be more fullyunderstood from the following description taken in connection with theaccompanying drawing, forming part hereof, illustrating in verticalsection an apparatus designed for carrying out my invention.

In the drawing, a represents a doublewallcd stationary tank forming partof an expansible gasometer. Between the walls of this tank Cl, isintroduced a liquid forming a seal for the mounted dome h, whichtelescopes in the tank a and forms the movable part of the gasometer.The dome Z) is provided with rollers Z), engaging the uprights orstandards b so as to permit the dome to move easily up and do n, asrequired. The weight of the dome b is counterbalanced by the weights band cords b The interior of the tank a is provided with a lining a, oflead or similar material not affected by the acid used in themanufacture of the gas, and the lined receptacle 0 thus formed ispreferably provided with a conical base a from which a lead -lined pipeor duct a discharges. This duct or pipe a is used only in cleaning theleadlined receptacle 0 by permitting the spent materials therein todischarge through the pipe or duct a At all other times the duct or pipea is closed by a plug a, of vitreous or non-corrodible material. Thereceptacle 0 and the movable dome h are traversed by a shaft d, whichmay be completely or partially hollow. Where the shaft cl passes throughthe roof of the dome'b, a stuffing-box e of ordinary construction isformed on the dome, so as to permit the dome Z) to slide up and down onthe shaft (1 without permitting gas to escape. The upper end'of theshaft d is secured to the base of a box or tank f, preferablylead-lined, and this boxf is adapted to receive the acid, usuallysulfuric acid, used in the liberating of the carbonic-acid gas from thecarbonaceous material g, usually marble-dust, located in the receptacle0. The lead lining of the box fis continued in the form of a lead pipef, traversing a portion of the length of the hollow shaft d andextending therefrom in the form of a siphon f adapted to discharge acidpassing through said pipe f and siphon f upon the top of the material g.At the bottom of the shaft d is formed or secured a series of paddles orstirring-wings d, and the box f, to which the upper end of the shaft dis secured, is provided with handles (1 to form a preferred means ofrotating or oscillating the shaft d and its paddles d. The paddles 01extend into the carbonaceous ma terial g and lie adjacent to the conicalbottom of the receptacle 0.

In operation the dome b is first raised so that it clears the upper edgeof the receptacle 0, and the carbonaceous material is introduced intosaid receptacle. The dome b is then lowered until it telescopes slightlywith the fixed tank a and an air-tight gas-generating chamber orgasometer is formed. The air in this chamber or gasometer is nowcompletely or almost completely exhausted, and the vacuum thus formedcauses the dome b to collapse until its roof rests upon the upper edgeof the receptacle 0. Acid, usually sulfuric acid, is now poured into theboxfand escapes by the pipe f and siphon f to the receptacle 0 and isdischarged by the siphon f 2 upon the carbonaceous material g.Carbonicacid gas will now be evolved andwill collect in the gasometer,moving the domeb upward. When the dome Z) has risen a certainpredetermined distance, a required low pressure of gas within thegasometer has been secured. A valve-controlled Outlet 12 from the dome bis now opened and the gas conducted to suitable apparatus (not shown)for charging the liquid to be carbonated. As the gas escapes from thedomeb the dome will fall, thus maintaining in the gasometer a constantor uniform low pressure of gas. The dome b in reaching its lowestpredetermined limit indicates that the action of the acid upon thecarbonaceous material has practically ceased. The shaft (1 and itspaddles d are now turned or oscillated to stir up the carbonaceousmaterial and to present fresh or uncombined material to the acid. A newevolution of gas results and the dome Z) again ascends. These movementsup and down of the dome 12 continue until the carbonaceous material hasbeen thoroughly or completely combined with acid and has yielded up allof its carbonicacid gas. A plug f is then inserted in the acid-pipe f tostop the flow of acid. The dome b is mechanically raised to expose theinterior of the receptacle 0 after its gas-outlet b has been closed.Water or other cleansing fluid is then introduced into the receptacle oand the paddles d operated to agitate the spent materials and forcethemout of the duct or pipe a from which the plug a has been removed.The counterbalancing of the dome b by the weights b serves to relievethe pressure of the dome 19 upon the gas, and hence the gas ismaintained under low pressure in the gasometer.

Having thus described the nature and objects of my invention, what Iclaim as new, and ,desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In an apparatus for the manufacture of gas, a gasometer, comprising afixed tank adapted to receive the carbonaceous or similar material, anda removable dome adapted to telescope with the tank, a shaft traversingthe dome and tank, means for oscillating or turning said shaft, andagitating means carried by said shaft and adapted to enter thecarbonaceous or similar material.

2. In an apparatus for the manufacture of gas, a gasometer, comprising afixed tank adapted to receive the carbonaceous or similar material, adome adapted to telescope with said tank, a hollow shaft traversing thedome and extending into the tank, means for turning or oscillating saidshaft, agitating means carried by said shaft and adapted to enter thecarbonaceous or similar material, a box or receptacle for the acid, anda non-corrodible pipe leading from the acid-receptacle and adapted totraverse the hollow shaft and to discharge acid upon the carbonaceous orsimilar material.

3. In an apparatus of the character described, a collapsible receptaclefor the carbonaceous or similar material, a hollow shaft extending intosaid receptacle, a box or receptacle for the acid located outside thecollapsible receptacle, and a non-corrodible pipe leading from theacid-receptacle and adapted to traverse the hollow shaft and todischarge acid upon the carbonaceous or similar material.

4. In an apparatus of the character described, a collapsible receptaclefor the carbonaceous or similar material, a hollow shaft extending intosaid receptacle, a box or receptacle for the acid located outside thecollapsible receptacle,a non-corrodible pipe leading from theacid-receptacle and traversing the shaft, and a siphon located withoutthe shaft and discharging upon the carbonaceous or similar material,said siphon connected with said acid-pipe.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my signature in the presence oftwo subscribing witnesses.

VAN VECHTON W. RIE SBERG.

Witnesses:

J. WALTER DOUGLASS, THOMAS M. SMITH.

